Photo by Logan Fahey
A South African born New Yorker with over three decades of award-winning performances in a wide range of cinematic, television, & theater roles. A student of Robert X. Modica, Deborah Kampmeier, William Alderson, Don Bloomfield, & Diane Venora, his training is deeply rooted in theater & improvisation & overwhelmingly influenced by French New Wave & Italian Neo-Realism.
Stelio has consistently worked with some of the most critically acclaimed directors, producers & talent in entertainment including J.J. Abrams, Jim Caviezel, David Chase, Russell Crowe, Matt Dillon, The Duplass Brothers, James Gandolfini, Peter Greenaway, Ron Howard, David Lancaster, Tyler Perry, Ivan Reitman, Diane Venora & Dick Wolf. Frequently volunteers his time on-stage in NY & LA by simultaneously producing & performing several lead roles in Sarah Tuft’s “110 Stories” to raise funds for Operation Gratitude, The Red Cross, & The New York Says Thank you Foundation. His fellow casts in the play have included Edie Falco, James Gandolfini, Katie Holmes, Cynthia Nixon, Robert Forster, John Hawkes, Samuel L. Jackson, Melissa Leo, Sal Masekela, Jeremy Piven, Mira Sorvino, Susan Sarandon, Tony Shalhoub, Tamara Tunie, Kathleen Turner, John Turturro, & Diane Venora.
Was acknowledged by Al Pacino, F. Murray Abraham & several NY theater critics for his lead performance in the play Mortal Coils, directed by the Actor’s Studio Ed Setrakian at the Mint Theater. Is a board member of the River Street Theater Company, alongside Matthew Carnahan, Robert Carnegie, Jeff Goldblum, David Mamet, Jon Voight & his acting teacher William Alderson who serves as president.
His breakthrough role came in Law & Order Special Victim’s Unit in 2005. Starring opposite Mariska Hargitay, Chris Meloni, Bradley Cooper, Angela Lansbury & Alfred Molina as the chilling yet engaging fundamentalist Milan Zergin. His performance attracted New York talent manager Estelle Lasher. With Lasher’s support, he continued to thrive. Landing a guest star lead opposite Annabella Sciorra & Christopher Noth on Law & Order Criminal Intent, a comedic supporting role and 6th billing opposite Eddie Izzard, Luke Wilson, Rainn Wilson & Uma Thurman in Twentieth Century Fox’s My Super Ex Girlfriend, an ensemble lead in Sony’s Starship Troopers Marauder produced by David Lancaster, & nabbing a coveted recurring role on the Emmy award-winning Ugly Betty for which he received a SAG nomination along with the lead cast.
Has been a steady product of critically acclaimed high-end festival films distributed worldwide & lauded at Berlin, AFI, Palm Springs, Raindance, Hong Kong, Seattle, San Diego, the Black Reel Awards & the American Movie Awards where Stelio won best actor in 2015. Known additionally as a staple of well-received recurring & guest star roles, & fifteen years of LORT Contract New York stage credits that include favorable reviews from the NY Times.
Received critical praise for his recurring portrayal of real-life mafia boss Joe ‘The Boss’ Masseria in AMC’s The Making Of The Mob: New York with Previously TV’s Sarah Bunting stating ‘Stelio is reminiscent of James Gandolfini, I liked a certain gravitas-emblance to the Fini that I saw in Stelio’. His portrayal was also hailed by The Examiner’s Diane Zoller Ciatto. Has also been recognized for his roles as a ruthless policeman in the South African film Colors Of Heaven, as a tormented hit-man with a conscience in Pronoia & for his role as a rebellious Jewish prisoner in Once We Were Slaves; winning Best Actor at the above mentioned prestigious American Movie Awards, the SOFIE Awards & a Gold Remi at Worldfest Houston. Was nominated for a Teddy Award (as part of the ensemble lead cast) at Berlin film festival in Peter Greenaway’s Golden Bear nominated Eisenstein In Guanajuato which released theatrically in several dozen countries. His performance as Hunter Kimbrough noted as memorable by Film Journal’s David Noh. Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner applauded his understatedly powerful performance as Howard Boston in TV One’s Media directed by Craig Ross Jr.
A popular voice over artist, he recurred in Call Of Duty’s IW7 and DLC as the ‘FTL Soldier’ or ‘Faster Than Light’ character. Was inducted into the Alpha Psi Omega honors society for his achievement in American collegiate theater at the University of West Alabama and in 2014 served on the actor’s panel of the San Diego film festival with Josh Duhamel, Tom Berenger and Dennis Haysbert, hosted by Variety and film critics Jeffrey Lyons and Ben Lyons.
We had the pleasure to interview him, again! Check out the interview below.
Hi, Stelio! It is always a pleasure to speak with you! Thank you for granting the interview. You have been very busy. Let’s talk “No Postage Necessary.” This is an interesting film. Tell us more.
Sometimes fascinating projects have a way of finding you. Jeremy’s script was intelligent, unique and had that something special to it. We discussed the project, the role, and I knew we’d knocked it out of the park once George Blagden (Athelstan in History’s VIKINGS) and Michael Beach joined the charming Charleene Closshey in the cast. Regarding the bitcoin and the crypto, definitely, a case of life imitating art as audiences will discover. Ironically “No Postage Necessary” will be the first film in history to be purchased with bitcoin and crypto through Blockchain and it is exciting to be part of that. The theatrical release hits theaters this summer. Hats off to Jeremy and Charleene.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP1TNSCbTQI&t=2s”]
What can the audience expect?
I have not seen anything outside of the trailer and a few of my scenes in ADR but No Postage Necessary has great characters, strong performances, it is witty, clever, entertaining, cheeky and it will appeal to a wide audience. Charleene has also composed a brilliant score. She’s a seriously gifted triple threat and you heard it here first.
What do you enjoy most about your character in this film?
Special Agent Ames is a loose cannon that marches to the beat of his own drum. Jeremy was very comfortable with my taking several liberties with the role. Working with George and Michael was good, really good.
Let’s talk “Avalanche”. You just won an award at NOHO Cinefest. Congrats! Tell us about the film.
“Avalanche” is a dark comedy in the same vein as Polanski’s “Carnage”. It’s a three-hander that reads like a play and the second I had an opportunity to play a nebbish, insecure and highly paranoid writer I grabbed it and brought a few friends with me. Todd’s script/film lets the imagination run to some great European films because of its character-driven nature, awkwardness and fairly non-linear reveal. Think Francis Veber’s “The Dinner Game”. Even Linklater’s contained drama Tape.
What can the audience expect? A very whacky, insane, humorous, claustrophobic 80 minutes.
You’re currently shooting a film called “The Penitent Thief”. We heard it’s a film that tells the tale about an arduous journey of two unnamed men that was crucified with Jesus. Tell us more and tell us about your character.
Yes, The Penitent Thief is a character-driven historical drama that focuses on two Biblical characters we don’t often hear about….the two thieves on the cross with Jesus. It is based on Don Will’s novel, “The Tale of the Penitent Thief”. I portray Tiran who is the head of the Marauders, the resistance to the Roman occupation. Tiran’s storyline is heavily involved with the two thieves as they make their journey to the cross.
This film will resonate with several people of faith. What should they expect to see?
A film based on true events that really showcases some of the choices we all have to make or can choose to make in our own lives. I think it will inspire and provoke a lot of thought.
Are there any projects you would like to add that we haven’t mentioned?
Now Showing: Blood In The Water is now avail on both Netflix and Amazon Prime. It is a beautifully shot LA film noir. Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkdWa_KCwMI and since we last spoke Pronoia has had a successful festival run and is now available for worldwide audiences.
Coming Very Soon: “Running For Grace” will be released this summer after our premiere at Berlinale earlier this year. Fans of Jim Caviezel and Matt Dillon will not want to miss David Cunningham’s film. You can also catch me as Dino in this new season of Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots”, and in Peter Bishai’s upcoming high concept thriller “Rapid Eye Movement” which was almost exclusively shot on location in Times Square. Finally, much later in the year, Lionsgate will be releasing the family film “Bernie the Dolphin”.
BREAKING NEWS:
“The Cleaning Lady” (Horror) has been acquired by Jinga as part of their Cannes slate View the trailer – https://vimeo.com/268305969
“Pronoia” has been acquired by Nandar Entertainment and will soon be available on Amazon Prime – View the trailer https://www.youtube.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do_________.
I would submerge myself in several mission trips with my family, perhaps to third world countries where people struggle with everyday necessities that we take for granted here in the US.
Connect with Stelio:
Website: http://www.stelio-savante.com/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0767445/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steliosavante
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steliosavante/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steliosavante/
Featured Image Credit: Logan Fahey.
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